Printing press



. w. BRUESHABER PRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 16, 1923 .4 skews-sheet I IN VEN TOR M. W. BRUESHABER PRINTING PRESS Aug. 30, 1927. 1,640,975

Filed Jan. 16, 1923 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,640,976 M. w. BRUESHABERPRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 16, 1,923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATT. NEY

M. w. BRUESHABER PRINTING PRESS Aug; 9 1

Filed Jan. 16; 1923 4 sheets-sheet '4 j Fir 5 $7, IN VEN TOR A TTORNE YPatented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES" P ATE-NT' OFFlCE.

MARTIN w. emmsnannn, OF CHICAGO, rumors, AssIGnon '10 Goss PRINTINGPRESS 7 COMPANY, aconronn'rron or ILLINOIS" PRINTING rnnss.

Application filed January 16, 1923. Serial in. 612,947.

The invention. relates to rotary printing presses and more especially tonovel driving mechanism therefor means for throwing off the formcylinder to renderthe parts quickly and easily accessible for overlayingand for other purposes.

Objects and advantages of the'invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom,.or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts,

constructions, arrangements, combinations,v

and improvements herein shown and described.

' herein and constituting a part hereof, illus- The accompanyingdrawings, referred to trate one embodiment of the invention, and

together with the description, serve to .ex-.

plain the principles ofthe invention.

Of the. drawings Fig. 1 is a 'fragmentary side elevation, largelydiagrammatic, of one form or arrangement of printing press embodying theinvention, or to which it may be applied (many parts of the inventionbeing" omitted from this view for thesake of clarness) V Fig. 2.is afragmentary detail elevation of a printing couple with the drive on-theimpression cylindershaft, and a cooperating throw-off mechanism on theform cylinder; Fig. 3 is a viewof the same mechanism looking, at Fig.2'from the right;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, diminished in size, showing bothsides of. the

throw-off mechanism which is shown in part Fig. 5 is an enlargedfragmentary'elevaition, more or less diagrammatic 1n character,illustrating the operation of the throwoff mechanism for the formcylinder, and parts of the mechanism being the same as are shown at theright-hand part of 2; 1

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, greatly enlarged, taken ontheline 66 of Fi.2- i v 1% ig. 7 is a vertical .,section takenonthe line 77of Fig. 6; t Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail partly. insection, of the clamping or in connection with locking device for thethrow-off lever shown at the lower left-hand part of Fig. 3; and istaken I substantially Ion .the line 88 of Fig. 9; 7

Fig. 9 is a vertical section, taken On the elevation and partly invertical section, showing the mechanism at the right-hand central partof Fig. 10, but with the drive for the impression cylinder in neutralposition;

-Fig.-.13 is a fragmentary detail in eleva tion of the same parts asFig. 12, but showing the cylinder driven in the opposite direction fromFig. 10 and Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged section on line 14-14 ofFig; 2. r

- The invention has for its primary object driving the cylinders of aprinting couple. in such manner and by such'mechanism as to permitoverlaying, and changes in overlaying, blanket adjustments, or otheroperations on the impression cylinder, without-removing or otherwisedisturbing the plates on the form cylinder, and without disconnectingthe drive. This is exceedingly valuable, especially when runningillustrations with letter press, and particularly so when doingmulticolor work, as it obviates the .necessity for removing plates andsaves the consequent time and labor spent insecuring registry.

is placed on the impression cylinder, andco I operating with this drive,means'are provided for throwing off, or moving away from impression, theform cylinder, thus giving access to the impression cylinder foroverlaying or other purposes.

In connection therewith there is prefer- 10$I ably, though notnecessarily, provided an improved form of reversible drive for theprinting couple, that is, for driving the cylinders optionally in eitherdirection, as

desired, as is frequently desirable or necessary in printing indifferent ways and arrangements, as for instance, in perfecting in onecolor, or printing in multicolor on one side of the Web.

Other features of the invention are directed to securing quick, easy andvery accurate relation between a plurality of plate cylinders in thepress, by variably angularly positioning any plate cylinder so as toeffect accurate registry between the impressions from the plates onsuccessive form cylinders printing on the same side of the web.

'Other features of the invention will be initially pointed out inconnection with the following detailed description of the presentpreferred embodiment of the invention; and it will be understood thatthe foregoing.

general description and the following detailed description are bothexemplary and explanatory but not restrictive of the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, theinvention is illustrated as applied to a multiple rotary press,adapted'to print upon running webs in either one color or in a pluralityof colors. The printed webs are rum optionally invarious ways througlsasingle folding mechanism, or through a plurality of folding mechanisms,to secure various products as desired. The general arrangement of thepress, the folders and the like and the various ways of operating them,are old and well-known, and "it will be understood that the feaures ofthe present invention may also be applied to, or embodied in, rotaryprinting presses of other kinds, constructions and arrangements.

Referring more in detail 'to Fig.1, a

- plurality of printing couples is shown, each couple having animpression cylinder 1 and a form cylinder 2, journaled in the pressframe, their respective shafts being shown as 3 and 4 and the bearingstherefor as 5 and 6, respectively.

Each cylinder is provided with an inking mechanism, shown onlydiagrammatically and indicated generally by the reference numeral 7.Each inking mechanism is movable to and from its form cylinder in awellknown manner, and in certain of the printing couples or units, theinking mechanism is shown in inking relation with the form cylinder, andin the other units is shown moved back therefrom. This gives free access to both the form cylinder and the inking mechanism for removing theplates, cleaning the ink rolls and any other desired or necessarypurpose, the foregoing being a com mon arrangement of these mechanisms.

The printing couples are further shown arranged in a common andwell-known manner, that is, with a plurality of printing couplesarranged in decks, one above anand superposed printing unit's.

other, in the frame, and with a plurality of such groups or arrangementspositioned longitudinally, one after the other, in the frame. The pressillustrated in Fig. 1 has four such decks.

At the right-hand of Fig. 1, a usual o1 vertically arranged andsuperposed group of printing couples or printing units, and in theembodied form a driving shaft 22 is "ertically arranged along the endsof, and in alinement with, the shafts of the impression cylinders ofthese vertically arranged The shaft 22 is shown supplied with aplurality of bearings 23, and has driving connection with the shaft ofeach of the impression cylinders of the various printing couples, whichwill be described in detail at a later point herein. The variousvertically disposed driving shafts 22 are themselves driven in asuitable manner by mechanism indicated diagrammatically and identifiedby reference numeral 2 1, and which need not be described in detail.

As previously stated, the main feature of the invention, namely, thedriving of the printing couple through the shaft of the impressioncylinder and providing themwith means for slightly throwing off the formcylinder to permit overlaying, changes in the overlay, blanketadjustments, and the like, without disturbing the registry of the plateon the form cylinder, is preferably combined or is embodied incooperation with a reversible drive for the printing couple.

As embodied (Figs. 2, 10, 12 and 13), on the shaft 22, for each printingcouple, are a pair of beveled gears 35 and 36, movable into and out ofmesh with a bevel'gear 37, fixed on the end of the shaft 3 of theimpression'cylinder 1, the two gears 35 and 36 being in oppositediametral relation to the gear 37 as is usual in'reversible gear drivesof this kind.

Encircling shaft 22 between the gears 35 and 36 is a spacing sleeve 38,which maintains these bevel gears at such distance apart as to permitthe necessary movement along gear 36clear from gear37, as will beseen,

or spline connection with the shaft to r0- tate therewith while beingslidable therealong.

The embodied form of positioning or con trolling means for thisreversible drive mechanism for the impression cylinder, comprisesstruction of which will be best seen from Figs. 2, 10 and 11. Eachringis provided with a pivot connection 42'between the two halves of thering, and diametrally opposite therefrom in the ends of thering are apair of recesses 43 and 44 forming radially disposed fianges 45 and 46at the ends of the ring, which abut on ,each other when the ring isclosed about'the shaft, and are locked together. by a screw bolt 47. Akey 48 is set in the shaft 22, and is received in a notch or recess 49in thering to prevent rotary slippage of the ring on the shaft.

l When both rings 40. and 41 are beneath the hub 50 of gear 35 thatbevel gear is in mesh with the impression cylinder bevel gear 37, andthe'lowermostjringf rests upon the bearing 23 therebeneath. Frictionwashers 51 are preferably provided and are .shown between the lower ringand the bearing. In this position spacing sleeve 38 holds from Fig. 10.

When it is desired to have both bevel gears 35 and 36 in neutral ornon-driving position,

as when a, particular printing 'couple or -printing unit is silenced andother couples or units on the same shaft 22 are to be driven, collar 41is removed from beneath the hub 50 of the bevel gear 35, and is placedabout shaft 22 above hub 54 of gear 36, and gear 35, now resting on ring40,"is thus dropped out of mesh with gear 37. Sleeve 38 also maintainsgear 36 out of mesh with gear 37. When the impression cylinder is tobe'rotated in the opposite direction, the other split ring 40 is removedfrom about shaft 22 beneath gear 35 and is placed about the shaft abovegear 36, as shown in Fig. 13'.

I The formocylinder is driven from the impression cylinder preferably bya pair of intermeshing-spur gears, one gear 55 being .fixed on the shaft3 of the impression cylinder 1, and the intermeshing spur gear 56 beingfixed upon the shaft 6 of the plate cylinder- 2. This latter gear wheelhas applied thereto, or cooperates with, certain mechanism, previouslygenerally referred to and .later to be described in detail, foreffecting exact angular registry between the plates on ,the' formcylinders of different printing couples or printing units.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of themeans for throwing off, or moving the plate cylinder away fromimpression, shaft 4 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) is journaled in an eccentricbushing 65-, which bushing is fixed to a cylindrical sleeve 66, whichsleeve is journaled in the.

frame 67 of the machine. Sleeve 66 has its central cylindrical openingeccentric to its outer cylindrical surface. Bushin 65 is angularlyadjusted or positioned within sleeve 66, and is fixed thereto in anysuitable manner. Jls shown, a flat','annular flange 68 is formed on theouter end of the bushing and overlies and contacts with the flat annularouter face of the sleeve. countersunk screws 70 pass through the bushingflange and into the sleeve to hold them in fixed relation.

Sleeve 66 is rotatable or oscillable through a relatively small angle tomove the form cylinder toward or] away from the impression cylinder. Asembodied, on the external end of sleeve 66, and projecting radiallytherefrom, is a fiatplate 74 in contact with a finished surface on theexterior face of the machine frame member 67. Integral with plate 74 isan outwardly projecting arm 75. Pivoted at 76 to the outer end of arm isa rod 77,- which rod at its other. end 78 is pivoted to a yoked arm 79,fixed on a shaft 80. The mechanism just described is duplicatedforeachof the two bearings of the shaft of the plate cylinder, as will beclear from Fig. .4, the shaft 80 extending across the press and beingjournaled at 81 and 82 in the two side frames 67 and 83 of the press. cIt will be understood also that much of the mechanism later described isduplicated in like manner at each end of the form cylinder, only onemechanism being described as a matter of convenience.

Means are provided in connection with' the foregoing mechanism forregulating the movementand position of the form cylinder so as to bringit exactly and nicely to impression position with the respective pairsof bearer rings on the cylinders in proper contact with each other. Theembodied form of such means comprisesa device for varying the length ofrod 77. For this purpose the rod is separated into two parts near itsmiddle, the adjacent ends being screw-threaded into an internallyscrewthreaded sleeve or turn-buckle 90, which is oppositely threaded toreceive the two ends of rod 77. Sleeve is preferably provided at itsrespective ends with lock nuts 91 and 92. Thus by lengthening orshortening the rod 77 by means of the sleeve 90, the impression positionof the plate cylinder may be determined and regulated with any desireddegree of exactness.

Cooperating with this mechanism is an arcuate slot 88 formed in plate74, and projecting through the slot and screw-threaded into the pressframe is'a screw bolt 89. this device serving as a guiding and lockingdevice. I

In the embodied form of operating means for the'throw-otf mechanism justdescribed, a hand, lever 93 is fixed to one end of the shaft 80 and thislever is preferably provided with means for locking it when'the formcylinder is in printing relation with the impression cylinder (Figs. 2,3, 8 and 9). As embodied, a rod 94 has its inner end 95 screw-threadedinto the machine frame member 67, a collar 96 on the rod abutting on theexternal faceof the frame member.

3 At its external end rod 94: is provided with a shoulder 97, and has areduced concentric portion 98 extending outwardly therefrom.

From the outer end of the part 98 there ex-' tends a concentric reducedand externally screw-threaded portion 99. The lever 93 has fixed to orintegral therewith an outwardly extending fiat arm 100. and has a hub101 formed thereon, the hub having an aperture 102 therein, adapted tofit closely over the part 98 of the rod 97.

A clamping screw 105 is internally screwthreaded, and has at its innerend a reduced cylindrical portion 106 fitting within an annularlyrecessed portion 107in the outer end of hub 101. The fiat annular facesof the hub within the recess and of the inner face ,of the part 106 ofthe clamping screw bear upon each other with locking pressure, when thescrew is turnedhome, as best appears from Fig. 8, the proportions andclearances of the various parts being designed for this purpose, as willbe clearly seen from Fig. 8.

The screw bolt 89 is loose during the movement of the form cylinder, butat impression position is screwed home to firmly lock the parts inprinting position. Thus the plate cylinder is firmly locked inimpression or printing position. In Fig. 5 this mechanism is shown infull line for the printing position and in broken line for the throw-offposition for the plate cylinder. In this view a is the'center ofrotation of sleeve 66 and arrow 72 represents the. path of the axis ofthe form cylinder 2. It will be understood that this particularrepresentation is explanatory only and not restrictive as to partlcularform, proportion of parts or other details.

Referring now to the embodied form of means for securingangular registrybetween the form cylinders of different printing couples (Figs. 2, 3, 4.6 and 14), gear wheel 56 has its gear teeth angularly adjustablerelatively to its hub. For this purpose, the rim 115-has an inwardlyprojecting annular plate 116 contacting on the side face of a s1milarplate 117 integral with the hub 118, the hub being fixed to. the shaft 4by key 119. The outer annular periphery 120 of the plate 17 fits withinthe inner face of the rmg 115 of the gear wheel. The plate 116 isprovided with a plurality of arcuate slots 124 through which projectscrew-bolts 125 which are screw-threaded into the plate 117.

A pm or post 130 is fixed to the outer face adjustment or positioning iseffected, screw bolts 125 are screwed home to lock the cylinder andgear'wheel in position. Hub 118 has an enlarged head 136 provided withholes 137 for a turning bar whereby the cylinders may be turned by anattendant any short distance as desired without the use of power. I iThe invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying, .claims without departing fromtheprinciples of. the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is 1. A printing press including in com bination a printingcouple comprising a form cylinder and an impression'cylinder, areversible driving mechanism on the im= pression cylinder includingspacing means for locking said driving mechanism in forward, reversingand neutral positions, and

means for moving the form cylinder away 100 from impression. I

2. A printing press nation, a printing couple comprising a form cylinderand f an impression cylinder, a re versible driving mechanism on theimpression cylinder including spacing clamping collars for locking saiddriving mechanism in forward, reversing and neutral positions.

3. A printing press including in combi-,

including, in combination a printing couple comprising a form cylinderand an impression cylinder, a reversible driving mechanism on theimpression cylinder including spacing means for locking said drivingmechanism in forward, reversing and neutral positions, means for lockingsaid spacing means, means for movmg'the formcylinder away from1mpress1on,'

and inking means movable to and from the form cylinder.

4:. A printing press including, in combicylinder and animpressioncylinder, drivnation, a printing couple compris ng a formgears in position to drive said impression cyhnder in either direction.

5. A printing press including, in combi-- cluding a bevel gear fordriving the ima pression cylinder, and a plurality of-bevel gearsengageable with the first bevel gear for driving it in oppositedirections, clamping means for locking one of said plurality.

of bevel gears in position and thereby locking the other inpredetermined position to drive said impression cylinder in either direction, and means operated by an attendant for moving the form cylinderaway from llllpl'GSSlOn.

6. A printing press including in combination aprinting couple comprisinga form cylinder and an impression cylinder, driving means including apair of bevel gears mounted in relatively fixed relation and analternatively cooperating bevel gear on the impression cylinder, meansfor moving the form cylinder away .from'impression, and

inking means movable to and from the form cylinder.

7. A printing press including in combi nation a printing couplecomprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, and a reversibledrive comprising a gear on a cylinder shaft, a driving shaft having twogears, one on either side of the cylinder shaft gear, and slidable alongthe driving shaft but turning therewith, and split ringsadapted toencircle the shaft and removable and insertible to bring either gearalternatively into driving relation with the gear on the cylinder shaftor to hold both gears in non-driving position.

8. A printing press including in combination a printing couplecomprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, and a reversibledrive comprising agear on a cylinder shaft, a driving shaft having twogears, one on either side of the cylinder shaft gear, and slidable alongthe driving shaft but turning therewith, and split rings adapted toencircle the shaft and removable and insertible. to bring either gearalternatively into driving relation with the gear on the cylinder shaft.

9. A printing press including in,v combination a printing couplecomprising aform cylinder and an impression cylinder, mea ns for movingthe form cylinder away from impression, and a reversible drive for theimpression cylinder comprising a pair of bevel gears, and a sleeve onwhich the bevel gears are mounted in spaced relation.

10. A printing press including in combination a printing couple.comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for movingthe form cylinder away form impression,.and a reversible drive for theimpression cylinder comprisinga pair of bevel gears, and means formounting the bevel gears in spaced and relatively fixed relation,comprising a movable sleeve to which both bevel gears are secured so asto rotate therewith.

11. A printing press including in combination a printing couplecomprising an impression cylinder having a shaft, fixed bearings for theimpression cylinder, a form cylinder, -a reversible drive cooperatingwith the impression cylinder shaft, and comprising gear wheels connectedto rotate together to be moved simultaneously to alternatively drive thecouple in different directions, and clamping means for locking said gearwheels in driving position.

12. A printing press including, in combination, a printing couplecomprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, a re-' versibledrive therefor comprising reversely diving gears, and clampingpositioning collars for-locking said gears in neutral and in forward andreverse driving positions.

13. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,driving means therefor including a shaft, and two driving gears rotatingwith the shaft and slidable therea-long in fixed relation, whereby onegear passes into and the other out of driving relation to the printingcouple alternatively, to drive the couple in either direction. I a v 14.A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,driving means therefor including a shaft, and two driving gears rotatingwith the shaft and slidable therealong in fixed relation, whereby onegear passes into and the other out of driving relation to the printingcouple alternately to drive the couple in either direc' tion or bothgears may remain in non-driving position.

15. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,driving means therefor including a shaft, and two driving gears rotatingwith the shaft and slidable therealong in fixed relation, and means formaintaining the driving gears in any one of three positions, to drivethe couple in eitherrlirection or to leave it at rest.

16. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,a driven gear wheel on one'of the shafts bf the couple, and drivingmeans-for the gear including a driving shaft and two gears rotatingwith, but slidable along, the shaft and on'opposite sides of the drivengear, and connections between the driving'gears whereby they may be slidalong the shaft, to alternatively drive the driven gear in eitherdirection. a

17. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple.a driven gear wheel on one of the shafts of the couple, and drivingmeans for the gear including a driving shaft andtwo gears rotating with,

but slidable along, the shaft and on opposite sides of the driven gear,and connections between the driving gears whereby they may be slid alongthe shaft to alternatively drive the driven gear in either direction, orsaid driving gears may. remain in an intermediate non-driving position.

18. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,a driven gear wheel on one of the shafts of the couple, and drivingmeans for the gear including a driving shaft and two gears rotatingwith, but slidable along, the shaft and on opposite sides of the drivengear, and connections between the driving gears whereby they may be slidalong the shaft to alternatively drive the driven gear in either di-,,rection, and means for maintaining them in either of said'positions. 7

1-9. A printing press including in combination a rotary printing couple,a driven gear wheel on one of the shafts of the couple, and drivingmeans for the gear including a driving shaft and two gears rotatingwith, but slidable along, the shaft and on opposite sides of the drivengear, and con nections between the driving gears whereby they may heslid along the shaft to alternatively drive the driven gear in eitherdirection, or said driving gears may remain in an intermediatenon-driving position and means for maintaining them in any of'saidpositions." 7 a p 20. A printing press including in combination aplur'alityof printing couples positioned in alined relation, andindepend-- ently reversible driving means for the Various couplesincluding a common driving shaft extending past the various couples, anda pair of driving gears on the shaft for each printing couple, and meanswhereby each" pair may be moved along the shaft lnde- 21(Aprinting pressincluding in combination a plurality of printing couples positioned inalined relation, a driven gear on a shaft of each printing couple, andinde pendently reversible driving means for the various printingcouples, including a common driving shaft extending past the variouscouples, and a pair of driving gears on the shaft for each printingcouple and located on opposite sides of itsdriven gear, andmeans wherebyany pair of driving gears may be moved along the shaft independently ofthe other pairs, to bring the two gears of the pair alternatively intomesh with the driven gear.

22. A printing press including in combination a plurality of printingcouples positioned in alined relation, a driven gear on a shaft of eachprinting couple, and independently reversible driving means for thevarious printing couples, including a common. driving shaft extendingpast the various couples, and a pair of driving gears on the shaft foreach printing couple and lopendently of the other pairs, to bring thetwo gears ofthe'pair alternatively into mesh MARTIN w. BRUESHABER.

